The Department of Veterinary Services wishes to inform the general public and farming community that the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) has approved the establishment of containment zone in zone 6 subsequent to significant progress made in the control of the Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD)n outbreak in zones 6 and 7. Consequently, zones 3c, 4a, 4b, 5, 6 (excluding the containment zone), 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 18 have been reinstated as FMD free without vaccination with immediate effect.
However, the current movement restrictions shall remain in place until the 7th October 2011. This is necessitated by the compulsory decontamination procedures staff has to go through before they can be released from the containment zone. The relaxation of movement restrictions within the FMD free zones shall therefore be with effect from the 7th October 2011.
The movement has been revised as follows:
- Movement of cloven hoofed animals and their derived fresh products, livestock feeds and crop residues out of FMD vaccinated zones and the containment zone is not allowed;
- Movement of cloven hoofed animals into zones 7 and the containment zone is not be allowed;
- Movement of cloven hoofed animals between FMD free zones is allowed after a favorable inspection and under a veterinary movement permit;
- Movement of fresh products from cloven hoofed animals, livestock feeds, thatching grass, fire wood and crop residues between FMD free zones is allowed without a veterinary movement permit;
- Movement of livestock feeds, thatching grass, fire wood and crop residues from FMD free zones into FMD vaccination and containment zone is allowed without a veterinary movement permit.
The general public and the farming community are advised to consult the nearest veterinary offices for any clarification they may need on this revised veterinary movement protocol.
We wish to urge and encourage the general public and farming community to jealously guard against this precious and prestigious position we find ourselves in; having had our FMD freedom status reinstated.
We would like to thank the general public and farming community since we could not have achieved this great milestone without your support.